John Cena’s Father Gives His Bold Opinion on Gunther Being Slated as the Man to Retire the 17-Time World Champion

Ahead of his final WWE match on December 13th, John Cena's father believes that Gunther would not gain anything from retiring his son at SNME.

John Cena’s Father Gives His Bold Opinion on Gunther Being Slated as the Man to Retire the 17-Time World Champion

John Cena Sr. on John Cena vs. Gunther (via WWE)

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The swansong of John Cena’s legendary 23-year WWE career is just nine days away, as he prepares for his final match at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13th. After a rollercoaster final chapter that saw him turn heel for the first time since 2003, capture a record-breaking 17th world title, and finally complete the Grand Slam, the end is officially in sight.

Naturally, fans have been wondering who Cena’s final opponent will be: someone with massive star power, or a rising name who could benefit tremendously from sharing the spotlight with him on his way out. To determine that answer, WWE launched a 16-man tournament fittingly titled ‘The Last Time is Now’, with the finals now set between LA Knight and Gunther.

Recent reports indicate that the Austrian juggernaut is the favorite to get the nod for Cena’s farewell match in Washington, D.C. However, John Cena Sr. strongly disagrees with that choice. Appearing on All Axxess, he made it clear he doesn’t feel that the former 2-time world champion is the right opponent for his son’s final bout, arguing that neither Gunther nor the fans need it.

Well, it certainly wouldn’t be Gunther, that’s for sure. I don’t think that’s a wise move. I don’t think the fans would enjoy that move. Gunther does not need the rub.

John Cena Sr. via All Axxess

Cena Sr. also pushed back on the idea that Cena must lose his final match to elevate a younger star. He believes that his son already fulfilled that responsibility when he put over Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam in their WWE title clash. As for who should face Cena in his emotional goodbye, Cena Sr. offered his own dream list: Kurt Angle, Edge, Chris Jericho, and JBL.

The tournament finals between Gunther and LA Knight will take place on the December 5 episode of SmackDown. Gunther earned his spot by defeating Je’Von Evans in the first round, followed by wins over Carmelo Hayes and Solo Sikoa. LA Knight’s path included victories over Zack Ryder, The Miz, and Jey Uso.

Interestingly, Cena Sr. had previously said that Dominik Mysterio would be the ideal opponent for the retirement match at Saturday Night’s Main Event. While that scenario is clearly off the table, Cena and Mysterio did cross paths twice this year, the most recent being at Survivor Series, where the 28-year-old defeated him in Cena’s final PLE match to regain the gold.

Nick Khan praises John Cena ahead of his retirement match on December 13th

Nick Khan has been one of WWE’s most influential power players since stepping into leadership in 2020, and in just four years, he’s helped steer the company through some of the most transformative moments in its history. Under Khan’s guidance, the company moved beyond the WWE Network era and into a new age defined by billion-dollar broadcast deals. 

John Cena
John Cena (via WWE)

Moreover, he even navigated the company through Vince McMahon’s exit, oversaw the promotion’s sale, and played a central role in the landmark merger with UFC to form TKO Group under the Endeavor umbrella. 

And now, as of December 13, Khan faces yet another monumental transition: the in-ring retirement of John Cena. On that night at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Washington, D.C., Cena will perform in a WWE ring for the final time. For nearly a quarter-century, he has been the face of the company and the living embodiment of WWE’s modern era. 

In a new interview with Pat McAfee, Khan didn’t hold back when reflecting on Cena’s legacy. Not only did he crown him the greatest of all time, but he also emphasized that WWE feels privileged to give him the send-off he deserves.

It (Cena’s retirement show) is gonna be a great show. You talk about people who work their behinds off, who never say that they’re tired. Cena — you never hear him say, ‘I’m so tired, I can’t believe this, I have to do this or that.’ He just does it. That’s GOAT mentality. He deserves everything that he’s earned in his life, and it’s our honor to help see him out.

Nick Khan via The Pat McAfee Show

And the stakes around Cena’s final opponent couldn’t be higher. With LA Knight and Gunther winning their ‘Last Time Is Now’ semifinal matches on Raw, Cena now knows his last dance will be with one of WWE’s hottest stars. 

The two collide in the finals this Friday on SmackDown, with the winner set to appear on Raw to discuss what it means to potentially retire Cena, a responsibility that could define their own careers. Moreover, Cena’s road to retirement has been nothing short of dramatic. 

Since announcing his decision at SummerSlam 2024, he captured a record 17th world championship, rekindled classic rivalries with Randy Orton, CM Punk, R-Truth, and Brock Lesnar, and even shocked the world by turning heel for the first time since becoming the company’s franchise star.

But through it all, he has remained unwavering: December 13 is the finish line, with Cena making it clear that he will not get physical in a WWE ring after that date.

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